Every day, a dozen women come to Caioti Pizza Café in Studio City, California, to order “The Salad.” The restaurant makes no claims about The Salad, but women swear eating it helped them go into labor. And when you’re past your due date, you’ll try anything to get that baby out.
Owner Carrie Ladou says the whole thing started 28 years ago, when a pregnant woman came in and ate the salad then started having contractions. And an urban legend was born. Carrie says they have anywhere from 5 to 20 pregnant women order it a day, hoping it will work for them. There’s even a plaque on the wall with the names of babies who made their debut after mama ate this salad.
So what’s in this incredible, contraction-bringing salad? It’s pretty simple really – romaine lettuce, watercress, walnuts, and Gorgonzola cheese. Some suspect it’s the balsamic basil vinaigrette dressing that gets things going, and some desperate moms-to-be even drink it like a shot.
And the restaurant will tell you the vinaigrette has olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, along with other herbs - but they’re not giving up ALL the ingredients. The staff even has to sign confidentiality agreements vowing to keep the recipe secret. So if you’re pregnant, or know someone that is, and you want to give it a try, you’ll have to head to California.
Source: Scary Mommy